Coin-Op Game Room

This place is like the Google Plus of bars: in THEORY, an amazing idea; in PRACTICE, so horribly run and organized that it might as well be useless.
THEORY: an awesome collection of games — Streetfighter, Pacman, basketball, giant Jenga, etc.
PRACTICE: there’s only one of each game and they’re all lined up around the edge of the room so that the lines for each game are hours long and start wrapping around the tables so that the people eating have people practically sitting in their lap and the clustereff becomes a gigantic fire hazard…
which brings me to:
THEORY: a nice friendly environment reminiscent of our childhood arcades.
PRACTICE: NOPE! instead, let’s hire the rudest, most condescending bouncers this side south of the North Pole — who act like they’ve been hired to cure cancer instead of watching over a bar in Sacramento. heads up, everyone: you are apparently not allowed to stop moving the entirety of the time that you’re inside. chatting by the door? «nope, can’t stand there, ma’am, gotta keep moving.» waiting for your friend to get let inside because the bearded bouncer decided to cut the line off at her and instead let his «regulars» in before everyone else (and when you ask him why the other line is getting let in before your friends, he snaps, «Because I chose to. So what?») by the stairs? «nope, can’t be there either, ma’am. you want your friends to get let in or what? then go downstairs.» (sidenote: does that count a threat?) taking a break and standing by the bathroom in the giant, silent, empty back room where there is literally no other human being in sight? NOPE! Wild Red-​Haired Bouncer suddenly appears! «no ma’am, you can’t be here, you gotta keep moving.» yet interestingly, I see no effort in trying to fix the ACTUAL fire hazards that exist all around the room at the crowded games that you’ll never get a chance to even play… #butthatsnoneofmybusiness. OH — and when asking to speak to the manager because the staff has mistreated you and your friends so greatly that night and you want to lodge a complaint? «ma’am, those men are actually really nice, so if you have a complaint, it’s probably because it was your own fault.» (SERIOUSLY. ACTUAL. WORDS.)
THEORY: good bar food.
PRACTICE: diarrhea.
TL;DR:
if you’re looking for a bar with arcade games — try The Republic right down the street. more fun, better organized, MUCH NICER STAFF.
if you’re looking for a quiet, clean bar to chill — try upstairs at Bar West.
if you’re looking for a bar with good drinks/​food — try anywhere else.

Been here a couple of times now, and I celebrated my birthday there yesterday knowing it would be CRACKING on the last Sunday of the month!
What a great time! The bartenders are great, the beer selection rocks, and the games are hella fun!
I would recommend this place to anybody who wants to bring your friends to a bar that isn’t like any other. Friendly competition, and a huge variety of entertainment.
Also the bouncers really help make this place feel welcoming, they aren’t rude at the end of the night when trying to close down like a lot of other bars in the area. :) 5 stars for sure!

Geez I am really torn on how to write this one. Me and some buddies came here last night and I just did not like it, but seeing as how I try to be as fair as possible to a business, I don’t think my lack of taste for such an environment should reflect on the overall rating of my experience.
Let me just say that I have been married for 7 years and have a 1 year old son. With that being said, I was definitely a fish out of water being surrounded by a bunch of drink single people who were only worried about their next drink and who they were going to hook up with next. But again, I can’t fault the business for that when that is exactly who the business caters to. This is definitely not like your family arcade like the good old days. This is a bar with a few old school arcade games.
The arcade game aspect was really cool… I liked the kick back feel and the old pinball machines. I liked the fact that the games were only .25 to .50 cents. I appreciated that the change machines were all operational and worked very well.
I did not like that the bathrooms looked like Armageddon with urine everywhere etc etc, but maybe all the bars are like that? And be prepared to wait 10 hours for a drink (I don’t drink alcohol, but nonetheless for any other drink or to break a $ 20 for the arcade you will wait forever because the bar is PACKED).
We were told you can come more during the day when there aren’t so many people if you don’t want that bar scene, so maybe I’d suggest that? We also had to wait in line for quite a while before getting in.
Bottom line, if you are into the bar scene this is a cool place. If you just want a nice clean environment to peacefully play some arcade games, I don’t think this would be the place unless maybe not on a weekend evening?

This place is horrible. It has awesome games, awesome beer, excellent smoking and vaping area. The food is disgustingly delicious. The pin ball machines SUCK to walk away from. And the people. The people are sport nerds hooked on locally brewed beer. Totally hipster.
You don’t want to go here.
If I could give this place zero stars, I totally wouldn’t. Stupid building with its stupid games and stupid awesomeness.
TL;DR
This place has become my church. Go away.

As a man in my mid-30’s, I have fond memories of arcades and video game rooms. They were usually tucked into some corner of a mall or atop an old movie theater and run by someone who you know hasn’t seen sunshine in a while. The Coin Op game Room is a little different…
First off, it’s primarily a bar. In the center is a nice sized bar. They seem to have all the libations of any college-​type bar. You’re not going to get a wide selection of premium bitters or top shelf Scotch here, but the hipster bartenders do just fine with Jack and Cokes or pouring you a draft.
The video game selection is pretty good and with $ 10-​$ 20 bucks in coins, you can have fun for a while. As with all arcades, there are some games that go untouched because they suck so hard and then there are lines at others because they are so fun.
I’ve been here twice now, the first time right after opening and the secoind just recently. I would describe it as a college bar with a young crowd and loud tunes. Dress casual and bring quarters.

Have been to this place a couple of times and have enjoyed both of my experiences here! I came here on Saturday night and since it was the NFL playoffs, the place was crowded. Luckily there were some games available to play, since I’m not a football fan. They have a wide variety of games from driving/​basketball/​classic/​fighter/​pinball machines. We did the Simpsons, Drivin’ USA, and Xmen. And the best part is that most games are only 25 cents!
On the previous occasion, I also had a drink and their pizza. I had their basil cocktail which was good, but sort of heavy on the basil (I know Basil drink, hello!). Their cheese pizza was also okay, but on this past trip I saw a great looking white sauce with cheese pizza, so maybe will have to give the pizza another shot. :) I think that was the only type of pizza I saw coming out of the kitchen, so it must be the one to get! They also have some non-​pizza items if pizza isn’t your thing.
Definitely enjoy this place because of the games and nostalgia factor. During the summer, it’ll be really great to hang out in the outdoor section!

The coin op is pretty damn cool!!! Just seeing the entrance all lit up from the street was an inviting sight & once we walked in definitely felt like going back in time to my teenage years!
You walk in & there’s a large bar surrounded by old school arcade games (Tetris, Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Punch Out, & sooo many more). The bar has large TV’s all around the bar that shows both their selection of beer & sports (I was only paying attention to the beer) & a few bartenders that were quickly working the bar (our bartender was very nice & smiling the whole time). The lights are dim & you really get that underground feel from the place which again reminded me of old bars, clubs, lounges in the Bay during the 90’s.
More then anything this place was nostalgic for me, so maybe that’s why I liked it sooo much! My husband & I had a great time playing some of our favorite childhood games that we haven’t played in years while drinking a beer! I can’t complain & will be back again w/​friends (I think they’d get a kick out of the place)!

Came here with a group of 6 on a Saturday night and it wasn’t too packed until later on in the night around 9 PM and later. First glance, it felt like an arcade with a bar in the middle or an old school version of Dave and Busters. They check IDs right at the door, thus there are no children at all.
Ordering was relatively easy but was harder as the night went on because of the amount of people. However, there was about 4 – 5 bartenders working so even with the crowd it wasn’t too hard to order.
Food: Ordered a sausage pizza which came with barely any sausage and had 6 slices. There wasn’t anything special about this pizza except the lack of sausage and hot red peppers, which was very surprising and too spicy for my tastes. Left me wanting to drink a whole cup of water afterwards.
Drink: Deerhoof smash. I really enjoyed this drink and it was probably one of the highlights of my visit. The perfect blend of alcohol and juice and packed with mint to give you a refreshing taste.
Games: My favorite was the giant connect 4 and pac man. Both these games were fun to play when part of a bigger group and the competition made it much more fun. The rest of the games were interesting but overall there were only a few that caught my eye. Unfortunately, there was always a line or a group playing with the giant jenga sets hence I was not able to play with the set. When one group was done with the set, we kindly asked if they were done and they said they were not and proceeded to wait another 5 – 10 minutes before starting another game. In my opinion, I thought this was somewhat rude because the general courteous consensus inside with the games seemed to be to play one game and then let the next group or whoever else in line have a turn. I guess it didn’t help that this group felt like hogging the jenga set and was drinking at the same time.
Overall, I think this place is a hit or miss depending on what you are going there for (food, drinks, games, or something else?), whether or not you enjoy the atmosphere (there was too much smoking outside where the connect 4 and jenga was for me to enjoy the games), and the people who you go with. I would go back at times when it isn’t as packed but definitely won’t be visiting more than a few times again unless it’s to show new people the place.
A nice addition would be a coat check because there was no place at all to leave our coats and belongings while playing games.

Cool concept but this place, in my opinion, is just mediocre. Yea, there is an abundance of old school arcade/​pinball games – some of which love eating your quarters!! – along with a gigantic community Jenga and multiple Connect Four games available on the outside patio but, overall, there isn’t anything award winning about Coin-​Op.
We came on a Saturday night and it was jam packed inside! We waited a good ten to fifteen minutes to order drinks – I had «The Right Touch» ($ 7.50, vodka, strawberry, crushed basil, lemon, and a splash of absinthe) and my girlfriend ordered a «Killa Beez» ($ 7.50, gin, grapefruit zest, lemon, honey, and rosemary). Both drinks tasted OK but weren’t very potent and, for the price, we felt as if they contained more fillers versus actual alcohol. Next time we are opting for the «Dealer’s Choice» ($ 9.50) where you’re able to let the bartender know your drink preferences and allow them to create a signature drink for you! Coin-​Op also offers Fish Bowl type drinks to share amongst friends ($ 35) and House Shots ($ 5.00).
They even serve food which is great when waiting in line to play the games! We ordered a Carnivore pizza ($ 17.50, salami, sausage, meatballs, peppers, mozzarella cheese, and marinara sauce) which came out fairly quickly (~20−30 minutes since it was busy) and it was pretty good! You can also purchase their standard pizza’s by the slice ($ 2.50/ cheese and $ 3.00/pepperoni or vegetarian) or opt for something healthy like a caprese or arugula salad ($ 9.50-$ 10.00).
They DO check ID’s so, unfortunately, you have to be 21 and over to enter. The venue is quite big but there is limited seating when it gets crowded so I suggest coming in on a weeknight or during the daytime to evade the lines. However, if you insist on stopping by during their busier hours, it’s a great place to meet new people and make new friends!
If you find yourself yearning to play those old arcade games from the 80’s and 90’s then Coin-​Op is right up your alley! I, unfortunately, don’t particularly care for games as much as others do so this place had little appeal to me. Overall, the staff was pretty friendly and the food was good but it wouldn’t be my first choice barwise.

This is cool little bar with all your retro arcade games to bring you back to memory lane!
They’ve got TVs with sports games on so bring your friends! Great place to come spend time with friends, watch a game, have a few drinks, and then play your FAVORITE game!
They also have a patio area with GIANT games! Bring your friends to play or come out and meet new people! Everyone seemed very nice when we came out!
As you come in… they do check your ID so be of age! Steep stairs going down so watch your steps.
Overall…nice place to catch a game or just have a drink and unwind from a stressful day. Play a game or two!

Coin-​Op is attracting a lot of attention as one of Sac’s newest hangout spots. With plenty of entertainment — from giant Jenga, Connect Four, and a plethora of classic arcade games to conjure up some nostalgia — this bar is a breath of fresh air for the Sacramento bar scene.
We arrived a little later in the night and there was a fairly large line outside. It moved quickly though, so we were in within 15 minutes. The crowd was very pleasant both times I went to Coin Op. Everyone was willing to share games and take turns — none of that childish schoolyard bickering here! We whooped some strangers in Connect Four, who graciously accepted their defeats (such great sports), only to turn around and knock over the Jenga tower in our first turn (oops).
There was plenty of bar staff, and we didnt have to wait long at all to order our drinks.
Definitely a place to check out if you’re looking for something different!

This place is super cool! What’s not to like? It’s a video game galore, with great food, music & vibes! Came here with a few friends on a Saturday night. Tried their grapefruit cider and it was so good paired with their chicken wings (sauce on the side) which was cooked just right and was seasoned very well. Dip it with their green garlic sauce! My friends had the veggie pizza and they said it was also amazing.
From basketball to pinball games, this place will not leave you feeling bored at all. They also have a giant stack of Jenga that you can play outside in their patio.
Staff were friendly and the vibe was incredible. Definitely coming here more often!

I went here for the first time on a Sunday afternoon with friends and pretty much had a blast. We were able to find street parking that was relatively close by and it’s free on Sundays.
You have to walk downstairs to get to the entrance of Coin-​Op and there was a bouncer upstairs checking IDs before we walked down. They have a large patio area with giant jenga set up which was a cool place to chill. It was not crowded either indoors or outdoors, but there was enough people that it didn’t feel dead either. Sunday afternoon or afternoons in general seem like an ideal time to go to avoid the crowd.
It was a bit slower than it should of been to grab a drink, but once you flagged someone down or caught their eye, they would come up to you. The drink menu is awesome and there is a lot of craft beer options on tap. I ordered the Knee Deep Simtra Triple IPA which was 11.5% ABV and tasted awesome!
The games I played were affordably priced at 50 cents each and you can always play jenga for free.
I had a great time and will definitely be back. And I would bump my review to 5 stars if they had more people working at the bar to provide faster service.

Just stumbled onto this place on K St and was pleasantly surprised. It’s a little old school coin operated video game, pinball, and beer hall. The venue is open and spacious and has predominantly old arcade games from the 80’s and 90’s. The prices are right with most being a quarter, just like in the 80’s.
I saw the Galaga game, calling my name as I quickly approached the game. I sifted thru my pocket, searching for a quarter to slide into the slot. My fingers were slightly sweaty as my mind raced as I was about to play a game that I haven’t touched in 20 years.
It then came back to me as I deftly moved the game thru its paces as I began to knock off level after level with surgical precision. I perfected the challenge rounds and was now really grooving. In the end, after about 15 minutes, the game came to an end as my wrists and firearms ached from the action. I turned around to address my followers who would applaud my battle, but unlike in the 80’s, there was no one around to witness my battle.
My wife then said, OK, OK, let’s go… as I picked up her purse and followed her out the door.

Maybe I’m lame for what I’m about to say–
I DIDNT KNOW ABOUT COIN OP!
But now that I do… I’m super happy there is a place to go and genuinely hang out.
Here is what I love:
–Coin Op had a great crowd. Huge age range, diverse from hipster to nerd and all colors of the rainbow.
–Gigantic Bar equip with quickly and helpful bar staff.
–GAMES!!! I spend the whole night shooting hoops (ball are too bouncy though… I almost took out a by-​stander)
— LOTS of seating & a nice patio
–awesome music for those who really do like all types (let’s me real, everyone says that but it’s rarely true)
There is not much not to LOVE about Coin Op except for the fact that parking is a literal nightmare.
Go, drink, and play the jumbo Jenga!

You absolutely must check this place out. Wow, had so much fun.
Old time games, pinball and arcade, every kind we grew up playing before the computer craze. All of them are along the wall of this giant room. Smack in the middle of the room is the heart of the establishment, the bar.
The bar serves all kinds of craft beers as well as well drinks. They also serve food, yum that pizza sure looks and smells so good.
I played Galaga my all time favorite game in the whole world. So glad they have it.
The worst part about this place is the location. Don’t pack anything of value on you or in your vehicle. And the sidewalks around this area also stink of urine. I told Jeremy next time we go we have to find a different route and parking cause I can’t take that odor.
Was happy to see the police around doing their job of keeping us safe.
Aside from the bad neighborhood, this was an absolutely amazing venue.

We’ve been here a few times since attending a UYE back in August. My husband and I had a fun time. The games are great, they remind me of growing up in the 80’s and 90’s. The only thing they’re missing though is a Skiball… How can you have an arcade without Skiball??? Its Un-​American! But on the plus side there is free play after 12pm on the last Sunday of the month… Woohoo!
Food was decent, nothing really to write home about. They have slices of pizza and some other munchies.
Drinks are good and unique. I really enjoyed the Dealers Choice that was made for us last night, Kentucky Buck. I had never had it before or even heard of it but I think its my new favorite drink.
Service was ok, everyone is really nice but not the most attentive. I think it might just not be enough bartenders for such a large bar.

Centipede, my favorite!
I thought I looked old enough but the entrance had someone working and checking ID’s to make sure we were of legal drinking age. Thank you, sonny, I’m flattered! After we passed the ID test my hubby and I went down the stairs which led to an open spaced gated area with picnic tables and where you can play a game of giant Jenga and also a large version of Connect 4. There were also patio seating on the side of the wall of graffiti (artwork?). This area must look cool at night with the decorated string of lights…
Inside is about 40 coin-​operated games including Pacman, Street FIghter, Donkey Kong, Simpsons, Frogger that I could remember. In the center of it all is a huge bar with plenty of seating. You order your food at the bar and you find your own seat. This «bar-​cade» had plenty of the classic arcade games I remembered as a teen. I did play one game which was my all time favorite, Centipede by Atari. I was never good at it but playing brought me back to the 80’s! If you plan to beat the high points on the top scorers be prepared to bring rolls of quarters unless you’re really good. My quarter did not even last 5 minutes. We did not dine here so I don’t know what’s on their menu or the pricing of the food or even if it was any good.
I’m not sure if I’ll be back here. Maybe if and when William L plans another UYE (which I wasn’t able to attend, btw). We just happened to be in downtown Sac for an event that started in the evening and we were just passing time because we were too early. This establishment is located just right across the street from Vampire Penguin in downtown Sacramento.

They have giant jenga and connect four to play with friends in the patio area!
Tons of arcade games with a full size bar!
They have $ 5 Balls of Fire (Fireball) shots and $ 5 The Cold War Kid shots. I’m not of fan of cinnamon whiskey but the Cold War Kid shot was tasty!
I’ll definitely recommend this place for hanging out with friends!

My significant other and I were feeling adventures, so we decided to roam downtown Sac in search of a spot to have a couple of drinks at. After having dinner at Iron Horse Tavern (review coming soon), we decided to venture down K Street to find a bar. We stumbled upon Coin-​Op Game Room.
One of the coolest things about Coin-​Op is the fact that it’s located underground. We felt like we were entering an underground secret society. The first thing we noticed was that there were two life-​sized Jenga sets outside (literally Jenga on steroids), and tables that had large Connect Four sets. We then made our way into the bar/​game room. This place has dang near every popular game from the 80’s and 90’s! Even though I’m all about moving forward, I get VERY excited when I smell nostalgia in the air! I ended up spending an extensive amount of time on NBA Jam TE (He’s on FIREEEEE!) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. After running out of quarters (they have quarter machines in case you are running low), we decided to go outside and hop in a game of Jenga.
Like I mentioned, the Jenga sets are life-​sized. My significant other and I were a team playing against 6 other people. Everyone was really cool, and we encountered some friendly competition (that says a lot being that alcohol was involved). After close to an hour of Jenga, my significant other and I walked away victorious. I guess our college degrees are good for something after all… :)
I will definitely be back with a group of my guy friends. Rumor has it that the games are free on the last Sunday of every month. For those of you who complain that Sac has nothing to offer, shame on you! As long as security continues to do a great job of eliminating any foolishness, this place is definitely going to have some longevity.